Nematode and Disease Management in Soybeans
Midsouth soybean producers must constantly be vigilant to protect their crop from the myriad diseases and nematodes that can negatively impact seed yield. In fact, soybean diseases and nematodes cause significant yield loss in Midsouth soybeans every year.
Below are a few thoughts about soybean nematode and disease management, and links to White Papers that provide detailed information related to each point.
1. Collect soil samples from a field intended for soybean production and have them analyzed for nematodes to determine the type(s) of nematodes that are present in that field. Soybean cyst nematode [SCN] and root-knot nematode [RKN] are two species that are especially problematic for Midsouth soybean producers. Click here to access a White Paper that provides information about how and when to take nematode samples, and here to access a White Paper titled “Managing Nematode Pests in Midsouth Soybeans” that provides details about the various nematode species that attack soybeans and what can be done to thwart them. Also, producers should become familiar with how to use HG type to select a variety to be grown in a field with a high SCN population.
2. If planning to use a cover crop [CC] before next year’s soybean crop, ensure that the chosen CC species is not a host for nematodes and pathogens that will negatively affect the following soybean crop. The supplier of a particular CC species should have this information. Click here to access a CC White Paper on this website.
3. Select a soybean variety that is known to have genetic resistance to a disease or diseases that are known to infest a production site. For example, genetic resistance to diseases such as stem canker and frogeye leaf spot have been effective at controlling or partially controlling these diseases, so soybean breeders are busy trying to find durable genetic resistance that will be effective against the myriad other diseases that plague soybeans. Hopefully, future soybean varieties will have resistance to most of the diseases that affect them since genetic resistance is likely the best and most durable form of disease control. Click here to access a White Paper titled “Guidelines and Resources for Managing Soybean Diseases” that provides more information on the disease management subject.
4. Apply a treatment to protect planted soybean seed from pathogenic pests that will negatively affect stand establishment and seedling development. Click here to access a Seed Treatment White Paper to learn about protectant treatments that can be used to accomplish this. Click here to access results from a 2024 survey that showed that seed treatments are used by U.S. soybean producers on about 90% of planted soybean acres.
Composed by Larry G. Heatherly, Nov. 2024, larryh91746@gmail.com